Top 5 last minute holiday destinations in 2012

Last minute travel means exactly that. With airlines and agents having access to unsold blocks of seats on flights or unoccupied hotel accommodation, last minute bookings is often the best way to save money.

Here are the top 5 last minute holiday destinations this year:

Aruba

Known for fun, sun and a care-free way of life, the Caribbean islands are one of the top destinations for 2012. Bronze-up on the glorious white, sandy beaches and drink all the rum you want as you lounge by the pool eyeing the cascading waves of the sea. Enjoy what it means to truly experience an exotic way of life: fall asleep under a palm tree, and dive or snorkel in some of the most clear-blue waters imaginable.

The island of Aruba is versatile as a family destination or as a romantic getaway, which is why so many holiday makers return year after year. So, no matter what you’re expecting out of your holiday in Aruba, the island caters for all ages in one luxurious adventure-packed excursion.

Mexico

Fly to Mexico last minute and enjoy some of the country’s top destinations for tourism including Chihuahua, Puebla and Santiago de Querétaro. In all of these cities you’ll find a luxurious range of accommodation, beaches and resort-style attractions. Mexican cuisine is known the world over, but you’ll get a taste of the real thing.

Boasting a total of 1,834 airports, getting to Mexico couldn’t be any easier. Pick up an interesting read at the airport and 10–12 hours later, you could be sipping on a Mojito poolside in Cancun or Cozumel.

Turkey

This year, Turkey is one of the most popular destinations on this list. With so many last minute deals to Turkey online at the moment, with a few clicks you could be experiencing the warmth and generosity this country is well-known for.

Turkey is a unique and rewarding place to travel. Is it essentially where East meets West, and is at one end of the Silk Road: the ancient trade route linking China to the West, that originated in Xi’an in China. With Middle Eastern, Aegean, Balkan and trans-Caucasian influences, once in Turkey you’ll be surprised to see that mosques coexist with Orthodox churches.

Morocco

Situated in North Africa, Morocco is a nice blend of numerous cultural influences in one country. From busy bustling markets to still idyllic beaches, Morocco caters to a lot of different tastes and will give you the opportunity to explore many of its curious blends of cultures, from Arabic, Oriental and European to African and Mediterranean flavours in its music, food, culture and architecture.

The country boasts a number of international airports in Marrakech, Casablanca and Tangier, so getting there is easy and will only set you back three hours.

Spain

It’s no wonder that Spain is one of Europe’s most popular destinations with Co-op holidays year after year. It is great value for money, and offers family-friendly sandy beaches and unparalleled fun-in-the-sun holidays.

Sharing borders with Portugal and France and home to cosmopolitan cities such as Barcelona and Madrid, Spain is an ideal place to travel if you plan to move onto other countries in Europe.

Not forgetting its popular satellite islands (the Balearic and Canary Islands), Spain is undoubtedly one of the best last minute destinations of 2012.